User blog comment:Bluestripe the Wild/Redwall Wars:Civilizations/@comment-1031927-20091015223152

The map showed a clear course, with careful coordinates in on the side showing which way the ship was going. It led from our current position by Gaul to an island off the coast of Ireland. I must confess, I was more interested in exploring the ship for survivors than finding out where the boat was going. “I don’t like this,” Finnbarr muttered, “Why kill all the inhabitants of a ship then leave?” He turned to the crew. “Search the ship,” he ordered, “Perhaps there’s a living creature who can answer this for us. Go in pairs. Nobeast splits up.”

I was paired with an otter named Handel. He used the traditional javelin and sling combo, and wasn’t that fast but he was strong and hard to push over. We walked down the deck of the ship to the door leading below to the hold. I wrenched it open and a rank, unfamiliar scent filled the air, making us both gag.

“I know, ladies first,” I muttered as I started for the door. Handel grabbed my shoulder, stopping. “I should go first. It’s not safe.”

I bristled and may have said something I would later regret but Finnbarr’s words came back to me, words he often said: “’’They ain’t used yet to havin’ a maid on board as a warrior an’ one of us an’ not just a passenger. Show them what yer made of but never lose yer temper- that’ll convince them all the more that ye ain’t cut out to be a warrior.” I bit my tongue and let him pass.

I followed him into the dark hold. The rank smell was steadily increasing. “Light! What do we have for light?” I asked.

He gave a little moan of embarrassment. “Umm, ah, guess I better get a lant-”

He fell silent. “Handel?” I called. Something slammed into me and sent me careening across the room, scattering what ever I hit. I tried to shout yet I could not breathe. The rank smell, which belonged to my assailant as near I could gather, circled me. Could he see me? And where was Handel?

I got to my paws and he rammed me again. My head hit something, hard.

I screamed, slashing wildly about with my sword in the dark. ‘’Light light get to the light you idiot!’’

Something grabbed my sword arm. I kicked in the general direction of the thing and was rewarded with a howl and punished with a chokehold. The world began to swim around me. Light flooded my vision and I felt white-hot pain rip my cheek open. “Despair lives for all” it whispered before releasing me. I tried to bring my blade up but something grabbed my paw.

I sank into oblivion. And maybe I imagined it, but I thought I heard Finnbarr call my name.